If you’ve been following this series for a while, you know we generally stick pretty closely to hunting guns, or guns with hunting applications like bear defense. That said, all of us here on American Hunter are gun guys, and occasionally something comes along that’s worth diverging a bit from the norm. The 4" SA-35 from Springfield Armory, a carry-ready version of a genuine classic, is just one such firearm. Based on John Moses Browning's legendary Hi-Power—the first 9mm one of us ever shot—this modernized take from Springfield Armory gives a number of updated features, while still staying true to the original aesthetic of this buttery smooth shooter. Let’s start with what’s the same.
The SA-35 4” maintains the classic “wood and steel” vibes of yesteryear, with a blued finish on the gun’s carbon steel, and checkered walnut grips. These yield fantastic purchase, without being too rough for daily carry. All the traditional lines are there, just slightly shorter, thanks to the gun’s cold hammer forged 4-inch barrel. Up top, the gun’s sights have been modernized, with a white-dot front and a serrated tac-rac rear for a clear, easily acquirable sight picture. The feed ramp has been improved, and feeds reliably whether you’re firing ball or hollow point, while a factory tuned trigger feels great under the finger. While controls like the safety and slide stop are not ambidextrous, they have been slightly enlarged for easy actuation, though not large enough to pose a problem if you ride the slide. Finally, one 15-round magazines comes standard with the firearm, though the soft-case it ships in can hold an additional one.
For more information on the 4" SA-35, visit springfield-armory.com. And of course, to help in the fight to keep our 2nd Amendment rights, click the join button in the upper lefthand corner to pick up an NRA membership.
